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the framework of a house or building is built with wire and chain.
Olivier Thomas, “Cathedral of Green.” Photos © Alan Aubry, shared with permission

Thirteen Prodigious Sculptures Nestle Among the Trees in ‘La Forêt Monumentale’

Jackie Andres

Along the Seine in the thicket of Roumare Forest, an installation of thirteen striking sculptures celebrates France’s woodland heritage and ongoing preservation efforts. The handful of selected works, chosen from an open call that received more than 300 applications from 33 different countries, highlights both local artists and international creatives. The impressive project is justly titled “La Forêt Monumentale,” or “The Monumental Forest,” and is currently open to the public, encouraging viewers to gain an awareness of the country’s lush woodland identity in a physically accessible and creative way.

One of the project’s main goals is to re-introduce audiences to a love for nature and art while cultivating a newfound respect for the forest and its gifts. While “Cathedral of Green” by Olivier Thomas provokes the viewer to think about the notion of safeguarding and protection by referencing the parallels between religious architecture and natural environments, Will Menter’s “A sound river of possibility” utilizes wind to activate oak planks, creating a rhythmic, ambient soundscape.

The importance of wildlife and the effects of deforestation on natural habitats is the cornerstone of works like “Herd” by Ewa Dabrowska and “Camels” by Jan Sajdak. And by conceptually and literally evoking a reflective experience in “Origin,” Les Plastiqueurs’ ovoid form blanketed with mirrored panels leaves viewers to ruminate on the effects that they have on their immediate surroundings.

“La Forêt Monumentale” is open until September of 2026. See more work on the project’s official website.

three wooden dens stand in a forest
YOKYOK Workshop, “The Stubble”
tree trunks covered in gradient hues line a walkway in a forest
Boa Mistura team and students of ESADHaR, “The Sacred Forest”
a large wooden acorn stands in a forest
Linfeng Zhou, “The world in an acorn”
a herd of wooden wild boards treks along in a forest
Ewa Dabrowska, “Herd”
a large wooden figure that resembles a giant lounges on the forest floor, leaning against a tree
Thomas Dambo, “Gargan the Giant”
a geometric wooden building covered with black tarps stands in a forest
P + S Architecture Studio, “Compluvium”
a detailed interior view of the previous geometric wooden building covered with black tarps. the inside retains a lot of natural light within its light wood structure.
Inside of P + S Architecture Studio’s “Compluvium”
an ovoid shape covered in mirrored panels like a disco ball stands in the middle of a forest, shining in the sunlight
Les Plastiqueurs, “Origin”
two wooden camels stand in a forest
Jan Sajdak, “Camels”
a large wooden contraption consisting of pillars and handing rounded wooden planks is situated in a forest
Will Menter, “A sound river of possibility”

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